What is the Bible? Which books should be included in the Bible? Should some books be excluded? How do we interpret Scripture? As a local church pastor, I’m asked questions such as these all the time. To address these questions and more, I wrote a series of letters to my church introducing the Scriptures using the first chapter of the London Baptist Confession. I also recorded a podcast in which I recorded audio versions of …
Tag: Bible
1689 1.4, 5 – The Authority of Scripture
The 1689 Second London Baptist Confession: Of the Holy Scriptures (1.4, 5) ______________________________________
Letter from the Pastor 11/18/2025
Introduction
Twenty years ago, Dr. Ivan Spencer, one of my professors in college, asked me to read a book with him outside of class. The book was The Universe Next Door by James Sire which introduced me to the idea of “worldview.” In the book, Sire listed seven questions that, when answered, would reveal a person’s …
All the Good Promises: Introduction to Joshua
This coming Sunday our church begins a 5-week study through the Old Testament book of Joshua. Here are the video and notes from an introduction to the book I gave on FB live, followed by recommended resources for the book of Joshua.
Click the link below to access the PDF of my notes for the above video:
Joshua Book Study Notes
Bible Dictionary:
The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary is my go-to Bible dictionary (I have …
Dogged Commitment to the Word
INTRODUCTION
Every good pastor has a set of principles and values he brings into his ministry within the church. These principles and values ultimately shape and define the life of the church. If you were to ask me, “Jonathan, what is priority number one for Lake Wylie Baptist Church,” I would, with zero hesitation, respond, “The Word of God.” The Word of God must be central if our church will be found faithful to Jesus …
“Flattering Lips, Boasting Tongues” Psalm 12
INTRODUCTION
The Psalms have been called the “Prayer book of the Bible,” or even the “Hymn book of the Bible.” Down through the centuries, people have gone to the Psalms more than any other book to find comfort, to find hope, or courage. And that’s because, as John Stott put it, “The Psalter speaks the universal language of the soul.” Or as Rowland Prothero said, “The Book of Psalms contains the whole music of the …
Credenda & Agenda
EXHORTATION
Many of us embarked this week on our three-month reading plan through the New Testament and getting the most out of our Bible reading requires the right approach. The old English Puritan, Thomas Watson, gives us the right approach when he said the Scriptures show the Credenda, what we are to believe, and the Agenda, what we are to practice.
First, read the Bible with reverence. Think, in every line you read, …
The Steadfastness of the Church – 1 Timothy 6:20-21
THE TEXT:
Our text for today is 1 Timothy 6:20-21. These are God’s Words.
20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.
SUMMARY OF THE TEXT
Paul’s final appeal includes both a positive and negative command. First, Timothy must keep safe the deposit that Paul has made with …
“The Relationships of the Church” Pt. 1 1 Timothy 5:1-16
THE RELATIONSHIPS OF THE CHURCH
The Household of God
1 Timothy 5:1-16
THE TEXT:
Our text for today is 1 Timothy 5:1-16. These are God’s Words.
5 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.
3 Honor widows …
“The Men & Women of the Church” 1 Timothy 2:8-15
THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
The Household of God
1 Timothy 2:1-7
INTRODUCTION:
Two Questions.
Question Number One: What do you do when you read something in Scripture and you are certain of what it means, yet at the same time, you’re quite sure you disagree with it?
Do you question the authority of the Scriptures and search online …
“The Prayers of the Church” 1 Timothy 2:1-7
THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
The Household of God
1 Timothy 2:1-7
READ THE TEXT:
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and …